Jai Kisan: Instant Credit for Rural India
Year: 2017
Founders: Arjun Ahluwalia (CEO), Adriel Maniego
Funding: $88.6 million across 10 rounds
Investors: Mirae Asset, Blume Ventures, NABVENTURES (NABARD), Syngenta Group Ventures, Arkam Ventures, Yara Growth Ventures, Unitary Fund
Introduction
Jai Kisan is an India rural fintech platform from Mumbai that is revolutionizing access to credit in the backyard of the nation. It was founded in 2017 by Arjun Ahluwalia and Adriel Maniego. Jai Kisan is a digital-first financial platform that runs for farmers, rural MSMEs, and retailers. Jai Kisan fills the rural credit gap and creates economic resilience through its technology-led lending solutions and takes formal finance to where it is needed most.
Tackling Agricultural Challenges
Low-cost and accessible credit at the opportune moment has been a severe constraint in Indian rural economy. Marginal and small farmers have no record, collateral, or even credit history to their names—i.e., they are not eligible for bank finance.. Retailers and MSMEs are also troubled by cash flows, delayed payments, and informal credit cycles. Jai Kisan obliterates all these structural bottlenecks with the assistance of an online platform providing instant, collateral-free credit so that rural enterprises can flourish and develop sustainably.
Key Offerings
Jai Kisan provides a comprehensive financial toolkit for the rural ecosystem, combining speed, simplicity, and trust:
- Instant Agri Loans: Allows farmers to get collateral-free credit for agri-inputs, farm machinery, and other expenses within 10 minutes via its online platform.
- Digital Ledger App (Bharat Khata): Enlivens rural retailers with a credit management tool to monitor sales, recover receivables, and give credit to customers with built-in repayment insights.
- MSME & Supply Chain Financing: Offers tailored working capital loans to rural businesses, traders, and corporate agri buyers—ensuring liquidity and accelerating rural commerce.
- NBFC License & Product Innovation: With the acquisition of Kushal Finnovation in 2024, Jai Kisan now designs and distributes customized loan products, giving it complete control over credit deployment.
Real Impact
Jai Kisan’s financial innovations have empowered over 800,000 farmers and 100,000 small rural enterprises across 5,000+ pin codes in 11 Indian states. By bypassing the bottlenecks of traditional banking and delivering instant, need-based loans, Jai Kisan has enabled rural entrepreneurs to invest in productivity, expand their businesses, and achieve financial dignity. The platform’s rapid scale-up and valuation of $180 million reflect its deep impact and trust within India’s rural economy.
Success Story
In Maharashtra, a dairy farmer who traditionally relied on informal lenders was able to access a loan through Jai Kisan within minutes to purchase a milking machine. The resulting increase in daily yield and better payment cycles through local buyers—facilitated by Jai Kisan’s retailer partners—helped him double his income in under a year. Similarly, agri-retailers using Jai Kisan’s Bharat Khata app reported a 20% improvement in repayment collections and customer retention.
Lessons for Agri-Startups
Jai Kisan’s journey underscores the transformative role of fintech in rural development:
- Speed is Credibility: Delivering fast, paperless loans builds trust and loyalty in regions underserved by traditional institutions.
- Empowering the Ecosystem: Serving not just farmers but also retailers and MSMEs strengthens the entire agri-value chain.
- Tech with Local Context: Designing user-friendly tools that account for regional languages, habits, and mobile accessibility accelerates adoption.
- Vertical Integration Fuels Growth: Owning the full lending stack via an NBFC license enables product innovation and risk control.
- Data-Driven Lending: Smart credit decisions based on non-traditional data help widen financial inclusion without increasing defaults.
Stay Informed with Focus Agritech
Discover how Jai Kisan is redefining rural credit access and unlocking India’s agri-fintech potential.
👉 Subscribe to Focus Agritech’s newsletter for expert tips and funding news to grow your farm or startup smarter.
Want to Promote your Agri- Startup?
Fuel your agri-startup’s visibility and success today.
50+ startups connected with investors
Sponsored Ads
Sponsored Ads
